Butch Harmon
Sports Scene
High school wrestling begins its second season this week as the team state tournament begins. Division 2 and Division 4 districts will take place across the state on Wednesday while most Division 1 and Division 3 districts take place on Thursday.
High School Sports Scene will be at many of the districts in the area this week covering local wrestlers at this exciting time of year. Following is a look at team districts with Division 2 and 4 previews today and Division 1 and 3 tomorrow.
DIVISION 4 PREVIEW
@ LEROY PINE RIVER
Semifinal matchups: Blanchard-Montabella vs. Mason County Eastern; Manton vs. Pine River.
Montabella closed the regular season strong. The Mustangs broke into the Division 4 top ten rankings and turned in a dominant performance at the CMAC conference tournament . Montabella totaled 253 points to outdistance second-place Dansville at the league meet. A total of four Mustangs won conference titles led by Logan Burns who is ranked seventh in the state at 152 pounds. Look for Pine River to slip past Manton in the other semifinal with Blanchard-Montabella moving on to the finals.
@MIDDLETON-FULTON
Semifinal matchups: Kent City vs. Carson City-Crystal; Fulton vs. St. Louis.
St. Louis placed 10th at the Tri-Valley Conference meet and will have the inside track against Fulton. Wayne Beach captured the 171-pound title at the league meet and leads the way for the Sharks along with Chris Adams at 189. Kent City has solid depth and has been tested in the OK Silver conference against the likes of Allendale. Look for Kent City to edge St. Louis in the finals.
@SAGINAW NOUVEL
Semifinal matchups: Breckinridge vs. St. Charles; Saginaw Nouvel – bye.
Nouvel sophomore Austin Hughes is having a solid season. Nouvel placed in the top ten at the Saginaw County meet and look for Nouvel to advance out of this district.
@WEBBERVILLE
Semifinal matchups: Byron, Dansville, Webberville.
Dansville was ranked 10th in the state in Division 4 before placing second at the CMAC tournament to Montabella. The Aggies are paced by Cole and Luke Ragon along with senior Lantz Miller and should have come out with the district title.
@SAGINAW VALLEY LUTHERAN
Semifinal matchups: Saginaw Lutheran Seminary vs. Valley Lutheran; New Lothrop – bye.
The Hornets of New Lothrop are ranked second in the state in Division 4 and are primed for a deep tournament run. New Lothrop has a total of nine wrestlers ranked individually led by Austin Severn who is ranked No. 1 in the state in Division 4 at 189 pounds.